Mortal Shell II Weapon Reset & Upgrades: Tarforge Smelting

Direct answer

Yes, you can reset an upgraded weapon: choose Smelt at the Tarforge in Marrow Keep. The confirmation screen shows the Gloom cost and materials returned. Balance Patch 1 reduced that Gloom cost by 75%, but it is still a paid reset rather than a free refund.

This guide separates official facts, independently cross-checked launch information and field-testing advice. Patch-sensitive costs, drop rates and damage values are omitted unless the current build and accessible evidence agree.

Upgrade without wasting the reset

Change one layer, repeat the same route, and keep a tested fallback before spending again. The stop condition prevents a promising menu number from turning into a weak field build.

Situation	Next action	Stop condition
A new weapon feels promising	Run the same basic, armored and group encounters without spending rare materials.	Stop if reach, recovery or crowd control fails the real route.
The weapon passes the route test	Buy one primary-weapon upgrade and repeat the identical route.	Do not add a Tarstone until the weapon-only change is clear.
A Tarstone needs experience	Equip it during a familiar enemy loop, then return to Franz when its requirement is met.	Stop investing if its trigger does not support the chosen Shell and weapon.
A sidearm covers a weakness	Assign it one job: interrupt, break posture, create range or control a group.	Do not spend because its displayed damage is larger in isolation.
The build no longer works	Open Smelt and record the current Gloom charge and every returned material.	Cancel if the preview would leave no tested weapon ready for the next route.

Quick route

01
Reach Marrow Keep and speak with Franz at the Tarforge.
02
Upgrade one proven primary weapon before spreading materials across the arsenal.
03
Keep a Tarstone equipped while defeating enemies so it gains experience.
04
To change weapons, open Smelt and verify both the current Gloom cost and returned materials before confirming.

Fix the problem fast

What you see	Check	Next action
An upgrade option is missing	Confirm the Tarforge has the required recovered tool for that equipment layer.	Continue the relevant route, then return to Franz.
A Tarstone is not progressing	Verify the stone is equipped while enemies are defeated.	Run a familiar route with that stone active, then return to the forge.
A reset looks too expensive	Read the current Smelt preview instead of a launch-day video.	Verify the Gloom cost and every returned material before confirming.
Upgrades feel worse in real fights	Compare the same basic, armored and group encounters.	Stop investing and keep one proven weapon ready before rebuilding.

Mortal Shell II weapon arsenal used for Tarforge upgrade planning — Upgrade one tested weapon layer at a time. The current Smelt screen—not an old cost table—is the authority for a reset.

Check a Smelt reset before you confirm

This four-step worksheet converts the current Tarforge preview and your field test into a reversible decision. It deliberately does not assume a fixed cost or refund table because the live confirmation screen is the current authority.

Verified0 / 4

DecisionDo not confirm

RequiredThe replacement weapon passed one basic, armored and group encounter.RequiredOne tested weapon remains ready if the rebuild underperforms.RequiredThe current Smelt confirmation screen's Gloom cost was read.RequiredEvery material shown as returned was checked before confirming.

Next action: The replacement weapon passed one basic, armored and group encounter.

Nothing is saved or sent. This worksheet records only the checks you make in your own game.

What the Tarforge upgrades

The Tarforge handles primary weapons first, then expands to sidearms, Tarstones and Seals as its missing tools are recovered. Treat the weapon, equipped Tarstones and Shell pairing as separate layers so one change has a measurable result.

Sidearms should be judged by the job they solve—interrupting, breaking posture, creating range or controlling a group—not only by the damage number.

How Tarstone upgrades work

Tarstones gain experience while equipped as enemies are defeated. When a stone reaches its experience requirement, return to the Tarforge to purchase its next level.

Rotate an untested stone through a familiar route before spending Coins on it. That reveals whether its trigger actually supports the weapon and Shell you use.

Can you refund or reset weapon upgrades?

Use Smelt at the Tarforge to move away from an upgraded weapon. This is the game's weapon-respec path: the interface previews the Gloom charge and the materials that will return before you commit.

Official Balance Patch 1 reduced the Gloom cost of smelting by 75%. The developer described the feature as a way to switch weapons without a long New Game Plus grind, so launch-day cost figures are obsolete.

Open Smelt on the weapon you want to reset.
Read the current Gloom cost; do not rely on a launch video.
Confirm every returned material shown by the interface.
Keep one tested weapon ready before rebuilding another.

A safe upgrade order

Test the unmodified weapon against a basic enemy, an armored target and a group. Upgrade the primary weapon only after its reach and recovery feel dependable, then add one Tarstone and retest the same route.

If the change improves a training target but makes the real route less reliable, stop investing. A clean before-and-after route test is more useful than a larger number viewed alone.

Mortal Shell II weapon upgrade questions

Can you reset weapon upgrades in Mortal Shell II?

Yes. Use Smelt at Franz's Tarforge. Read the live confirmation screen because it shows the current Gloom cost and the materials that will return before you commit.

Is smelting free after Balance Patch 1?

No. The developer reduced the Gloom cost by 75 percent; the patch note does not say the reset became free.

How do Tarstones level up?

Keep a Tarstone equipped while defeating enemies. When it reaches its experience requirement, return to the Tarforge to purchase the next level.

What should you upgrade first?

Test one primary weapon against a basic enemy, an armored target and a group. Upgrade that proven weapon first, then add one Tarstone or sidearm layer and repeat the same route.

Watch the route or mechanic

The transcript was reviewed during material collection. Use the video for visual landmarks and timing; use the written guide to keep the decision sequence visible.